Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Vietnam, the country will be postponing its hosting of the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
According to Vietnam’s state media, the country’s Olympic Committee has already sent notifications to the 10 nations competing in the biennial meet, originally scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 2.
“The Vietnam Olympics Committee, the host for SEA Games 31, has sent a letter to countries informing them of its proposal to postpone SEA Games 31 to July 2022 due to the complicated situation of the Covid-19 pandemic,” according to Phap Luat Online.
The SEA Games Council will then meet and make a decision on Wednesday evening.
Virus cases have more than tripled in Vietnam since April to over 9,000. Although the number is low in comparison to most of its Southeast Asian neighbors, Vietnam’s vaccination rate per capita is the lowest in the region and among the lowest in Asia, according to reports.
Moreover, venues supposed to host events for the Hanoi Games are now under use as quarantine centers.
The second regional meet that has been postponed during the pandemic, while the 2020 ASEAN Para Games were ultimately scrapped as well.
